Tamil Nadu River Retrieval Movement Co-organised the River Parikrama of 6 Rivers with IPRBC (Indian Peninsular River Basins Council)

On 20, 21, 22 August 2021 a unique gathering of farmers and river activists happened in Chennai. It was truly the beginning point of the River-Parikrama Yatra. In the outcome document dated 22.11.2021, was the announcement to undertake a joint yatra of farmers and the river activists under IPRBC (Indian Peninsular River Basins' Council) from 2nd October to 26th November. 

We were addressing both -

• the entire world of farmers in India under crisis, because of the 3 Laws which were passed hastily and also
• the entire issue of how water and rivers, being an inextricable domain that affects farmers and farming, must be protected and rejuvenated
• the more global climate change crisis in all its facets

Innovative missions are started under testing circumstances. It was true that the farmers from all over India were to be equal-partners in arranging a national campaign, a March from Kanyakumari to Delhi, along with the farmer-organizations of all of Tamil Nadu. It was then thought that touching a sensitive political topic may result in many participating organizations shying away from the wider synergy being proposed.

Finally it was decided to continue with a yatra which interweaves farmer issues, youth issues and water. The deeper issues of life, livelihood and conscience - the values of life - then emerged as our natural heritage to be protected and made free of lesser aims and objectives and therefore - on 22 September 2021, the all-inclusive Virasat Swaraajya Yatra to make our inner and outer natural heritage free was started. The team building for this yatra and during this yatra had given rise to strong IPRBC initiatives and the yatra passed through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka in the first phase through Peninsular India. In the second phase, with a wider evolved vision, the yatra started on 6th November through Tamil Nadu and 6 river basins were selected as the route.

And so, in an evolving follow up to the August 2021 meeting in Chennai, the River Parikrama got allied and interweaved with the Virasat Swarajya Yatra, and the second phase began from 6th November 2021 onwards on the following rivers of Tamilnadu - Vaigai, Vaipar, Thamirabarani, Cauvery, Thenpennai, Palaru. This has come to a very positive completion today on 22.11.2021 exactly 3 months after the

August 2021 meeting.

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